The back-to-school season is an ideal time for many students and families to begin learning about the college search, application, and financial aid process. "Your College Search," a 48-page publication printed annually by the Albany, New York-based Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities (CICU), is now available as a free road map to finding the right college and ideas for how to pay for it.
To request your copy or bulk quantities, call (518) 436-4781 ext. 32; e-mail colleges@nycolleges.org; or write to CICU/Outreach Programs, 17 Elk Street, Albany, NY 12207. The publication is also available online - http://capwiz.com/cicu/go/2010_YCS - for easy viewing or downloading.
With many factors to consider when selecting a college – academic programs, location, size, quality, cost, campus life, housing, financial aid options, etc. - "Your College Search" recommends nine specific tips to help readers. Also, it offers a "College Search Worksheet" for compiling campuses that best match the interests and needs of the prospective student and a calendar of important dates and deadlines to remember.
Understanding state, federal, and campus financial aid is another important part of "Your College Search." Six simple steps outline the financial aid application process, from completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and Tuition Assistance Program application to renewing financial aid packages year after year. Also included in the publication are resources on grants and scholarships, student opportunity and work-study programs, student loans, payment and savings plans, and benefits for veterans.
Nationally, more than eight in 10 full-time students receive financial assistance. Federal Pell Grants for students most in need are $5,550 for 2010-11, and the state’s maximum Tuition Assistance Program award is $4,925. Further, New York’s independent colleges and universities provide approximately $3.3 billion in their own financial aid to students each year. It is important for students to consider their full package of grants, scholarships, and other aid when deciding on college.
"New York State is fortunate to be home to a diverse mix of higher education options. Here, more than 100 private colleges and universities offer something for everyone - high quality academic programs, a wide range of campus settings and locations, and exceptional student learning environments. Through ‘Your College Search,’ we hope prospective students discover the college that is personally best and learn about financial aid resources available to them," said Laura L. Anglin, CICU president.
"Your College Search" lists more than 500 associate and bachelor’s degree programs cross-referenced with the 100+ New York private colleges and universities that offer them. For each campus, the campus profile lists tuition, fees, room and board figures, application requirements, and deadlines. In addition, the booklet suggests qualities colleges and universities desire in applicants, such as challenging coursework, grades, class ranking, SAT/ACT scores, extracurricular activities, letters of recommendation, writing samples, leadership experience, personal interest, and more.
"Our overall goal is to help students and families become better acquainted with the college application process, outlining action steps to take when exploring college for the first time. It also offers a concise view of the vast opportunities available for study at New York State’s private colleges and universities," said Laura Anglin, CICU’s president.
Each year, approximately 200,000 copies of "Your College Search" are distributed free of charge to students, school districts and high schools, public libraries and community based organizations in New York and nearby states. To request your copy or bulk quantities, call (518) 436-4781 ext. 32, e-mail colleges@nycolleges.org; or write to CICU/Outreach Programs, 17 Elk Street, Albany, NY 12207. Your College Search is also available online at http://www.nycolleges.org. The document is set up for easy viewing or downloading.
In addition to "Your College Search," CICU’s Web site, http://www.nycolleges.org, hosts even more information, such as a schedule of college open houses, a searchable database of academic programs offered, information about financial aid, and direct links to private college and universities in New York State. Two new publications raising college awareness and readiness among middle school students and their families are now also available for download: "Making College Possible" and "Getting to College" in both English and Spanish.
